IN THE NEWS: Only three games separate the Cubs from the 4th-place Phillies, and Cubs owner Charles Murphy again goes to Cincinnati for help. This time he comes back with Orval Overall, a six foot two inch, 225-pound righthander who is 4-5 for the Reds. The price: pitcher Bob Wicker, winner of 50 games the past three seasons, and $2,000. Orval will go 12-3 overall for the Cubs and will help pitch them into four World Series in five years, while Wicker will wind up his career this year.
IN THE NEWS: At Washington Park, the Superbas successfully challenge the Sunday Blue Laws by playing under a new voluntary payment plan. Instead of dropping money in a box, fans hand it to an attendant who seats them in the proper section. Brooklyn then defeats the Beaneaters, 3-1.
IN THE NEWS: Unable to shake the effects of diphtheria contracted in the spring, a frustrated Christy Mathewson throws a rare tantrum after giving up four runs to the Phils on two hits and six walks in the first inning, and umpire Bill Klem in turn throws him out of the game. Hooks Wiltse relieves and picks up a victory as New York rallies to win, 9-6.
IN THE NEWS: Jack Harper, making his first pitching appearance for the Cubs after being traded by the Reds for Chick Fraser, retires all three Giant batters he faces, but is hit on his pitching hand by a line drive off the bat of the 3rd hitter, Dan McGann. Harper is lifted for pinch hitter Johnny Kling in the 2nd inning and never pitches again. The Cubs, on their way to a record 116 wins, top the Giants 11-3: Harper also pitched for the losingest team, the 1899 Cleveland Spiders.
Bill Coughlin is the 2nd Tiger within a month to steal 2B, 3B, and home in a game; he does this in the 7th inning against Washington during a 13-4 romp. Pitcher Bill Donovan did it on May 7th.
IN THE NEWS: The Cubs, now in first place again, score 11 runs in the first inning off Christy Mathewson and Joe McGinnity en route to a 19-0 cakewalk in New York. Matty gives up six walks and Iron Joe leaves after the 2nd inning. Jack Pfiester allows just three hits as he coasts to the win, the worst beating in Giants history.
IN THE NEWS: A 19-game losing streak ends for the Boston Beaneaters (NL) with a 6-3 win over the Cardinals.
Under threatening skies, the host Phillies take the field in the 8th inning holding a 1-0 lead over the Pirates. As the Pirates rally the Phils stop trying for outs, hoping that umpire Bill Klem will call the game and declare them 1-0 winners. But after seven runs cross the plate, Klem declares a forfeit and the fans erupt. In two weeks the NL will instruct all clubs to provide dressing areas for visiting teams, so they do not have to change in their hotel.
IN THE NEWS: At Boston, the Boston BeaneatersDave Brain makes a ML record 5 errors at 3B, and his teammates makes another 6 to help the St. Louis Cardinals post an 8–1 win. The 11 errors ties the NL record set by the
Cardinals on April 19, 1902.
IN THE NEWS: The Brooklyn Superbas record 27 putouts and 27 assists in beating the Pirates, 6-1. This will stand as the record until Pittsburgh totals 28 on June 7, 1911.
IN THE NEWS: In another test of Sunday baseball in Brooklyn, Superbas prexy Charles Ebbets comes up with a twist--patrons will pay after the game is played. 'Nice try' say the police who arrest Ebbets, manager Ned Hanlon, the visiting Reds' manager Joe Kelley, and starting P Mal Eason. The case is dismissed as no admission was charged. In addition to the visit to the police precinct, the Reds whip Brooklyn, 3-0.
At the Polo Grounds, Mathewson appears in old form, yielding eight hits in beating the Cardinals, 2-1. Jack Taylor takes the loss when 2B Pug Bennett bobbles Roger Bresnahan's grounder in the 8th and a run scores.
IN THE NEWS: NL directors pass a resolution urging all clubs to provide dressing rooms for visiting teams because the spiked shoes were causing damage and upsetting hotel managers. Even those teams that do comply, however, offer such primitive facilities that most teams on the road continue to dress at their hotels. Another resolution moves the batting practice from in front of the grand stand to the diamond. A third resolution is passed donating $500 to the Pacific Coast League, suffering from the damage caused by the San Francisco earthquake.
IN THE NEWS: At Exposition Park, Honus Wagner clubs one of the longest hits in park history, but only makes it to 3B. Rounding first he is clipped by 1B Kid Gleason, and Wagner limps his way to a triple. A pinch runner, Harry Smith, scores for the Pirates on a fly and the Phils then generously allow Wagner to return to SS. But the injury will force him to miss three games.
IN THE NEWS: At the Polo Grounds, umpire Bob Emslie tosses John McGraw in the 4th inning, but his fellow ump Hank O'Day goes one better, banishing Joe McGinnity and first sacker Dan McGann in the 5th. Down 4-2, Christy Mathewson relieves for the Giants and shuts out the Pirates over the last four innings. The Giants load the bases in the 9th and Chappie McFarland relieves a tired Sam Leever. A single scores one and with two outs, Doc Marshall singles to score the winning run. Mathewson wins, 5-4.
IN THE NEWS: At the Polo Grounds, the Giants whip the Phils 5-0 in a match that takes one hour: 20 minutes. Christy Mathewson allows six hits in outpitching Lew Richie.
The Browns' Harry Howell allows 11 hits in shutting out Cleveland, 9-0.
IN THE NEWS: At South End Grounds, the Giants roast the Beaneaters, 6-4, as Christy Mathewson wins his 8th game.
In an Iowa State league game at Waterloo, Herbert Whitney, catcher for the Burlington (Iowa) Pathfinders, is beaned by a pitch from Fred Evans and his skull is fractured. He dies from the injury (as noted by Tim Rask),